Pakistan decries drone strikes on its soil, as US considers more

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Pakistan on Thursday condemned drone strikes on its soil as violations of sovereignty, after U.S. officials suggested Washington might ramp them up against Afghan Taliban taking refuge inside Pakistan.

The foreign ministry statement also came a day after Pakistan said its forces had shot down an Iranian drone near its southwestern border with Iran.

Washington claims Islamabad provides safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and other militants fighting the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, something Pakistan strongly denies.

U.S. officials told Reuters this week Washington was hardening its stance towards Pakistan, and a new policy on Afghanistan could see an increase in drone attacks. .

"Our position is that drone strikes are counter-productive and violate the sovereignty of Pakistan," foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on Thursday in response to the Reuters report.